DOCTORS SEE INCREASE IN STRESS-RELATED CONDITIONS DURING RECESSION

DOCTORS SEE INCREASE IN STRESS-RELATED CONDITIONS DURING RECESSION

03-11-2009

More than eight in 10 Americans attribute the troubling economic condition to their stress and depression, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association. Consequently, as the economy worsens, many doctors are finding that they are treating many patients for stress related ailments.

“Medicine gets busier when there is more misery in the world,” says Dr. Bernard Michlin of Alvarado Hospital in San Diego.

The cases stemming from this stressful climate range from depression, anxiety to sleep disorders. This stress induced depression causes individuals to become more susceptible to illness do to increased levels of natural steroids and adrenaline produced by the body. When an individual is anxious, the body produces adrenaline, but when the person doesn’t know how to respond to the sudden surge in adrenaline, it raises blood pressure and can increase chances of heart attack and stroke.

“Patients suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure have found that the medications have become less effective,” says Dr. Michlin. The American Heart Association estimates high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the United States.

Another common problem individuals are experiencing is difficulty sleeping. A person may sleep for eight hours, but they are not getting restorative sleep, meaning they awaken feeling tired and remain so all day. A lack of restorative sleep may also play a role in heightening depression.

To find a physician, call 1-800-ALVARADO (1-800-258-2723) or click here.